Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello, I am considering getting a pair or two of corns. I am used to ball pythons for the most part, but want to venture out and maybe try breeding some corns.

What would be a good way to get started? Any recomendations on what type of corn? There are so many types out there I am just confused as to which I would want to do. What did you start out with? Which one is most common? Anything you can tell me is helpful. Thanks
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

>>
>>What would be a good way to get started?

If you are interested in diving right into breeding, buy yourself some adults.

>> Any recomendations on what type of corn?

Get yourself morphs that you like and that compliment eachother as breeding partners.

Some morphs have had historical problems, though there will always be exceptions to this rule. Bloodreds have a reputation of being lizard feeders out of the egg, though this is no longer widespread due to outcrossing. Sunkissed okeetees tend to have a mean streak a mile wide. Stuff like that.

>>Which one is most common?

Normals, Amels, Anery A's, and Hypo A's are by far the most common. Okeetees, Upper Keys, and Miami are varieties of normal cornsnakes. Sunglow and Candycane are variations on the Amel theme, as are Reverse Okeetees.

The best recommendations I can give you are to pick up the following two books:
The Cornsnake Manual by Kathy Love (or the new version with similar title by the same author)
The 2006 Cornsnake Morph Guide by Chuck Pritzel

The first book is an excellent resource on cornsnake care. The second one is a must have if you want to get a really good grip on the morphs and the genetics behind them (though Cornsnakes aren't nearly as bad as ball pythons in this regard).

As far as breeders go, South Mountain Reptiles (Don Soderberg), Corn Utopia (Kathy Love), or Rich Z are all good people to buy from.

-Kat
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This Space For Rent

>>>>
>>>>What would be a good way to get started?
>>
>>If you are interested in diving right into breeding, buy yourself some adults.

Er... and if you're willing to wait a few years, buy some more interestingly morphed hatchlings.

-Kat
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This Space For Rent

Thanks for the info, I was thinking of starting out simple with the basic "dime a dozen" corns before I venture into morphs, just to get the hang of having something other than BPs and my one kingsnake. If you think of any other dealers, let me know. Thanks again.
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

There are 100's if not 1000's of breeders out there. They just listed off the best. You mentioned something about just wanting regular corns to get started.... You can get a nice corn(higher end morph) for the same price as a normal ball python and honestly probably cheaper. So it really doesn't matter what you start with as long as you like it! Good luck. BTW don't expect to make any money off of your corns.... Do it because you love the snakes.
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0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1.0 Ball Python "Wilson" (Castaway)
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
0.0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Onyx"

Yeah, I know there is quite a large gap between ball morphs and corn morphs LOL, I just want to get into the basics because it seems like a good place to start and unlike the BP morphs, I can't say I like any one corn morph much better than the others, there all so colorful (or not, but just as appealing) and awesome.

I only got into snakes because I just love them, after my first BP I became addicted, hopefully start breeding them next year, I had tried breeding before, but my females weren't big enough and then I hit hard times and had to let them all go. So I am in it for the passion of the animals definitly, I know BPs might bring me in some cash when I get into the bigger morphs, but that money will go right back into them for the most part.

Most of my animals are rescues, I got a BP from someone who's son had her and wasn't paying attention to her at all, and this person had also taken in a cali. kingsnake that was going to be released into the wild here in Michigan, and she didn't even like snakes, so I told her I would take the king in the deal. My first non-python other than wild garters and watersnakes I rehabed. Other than the fact that he never comes out and he's extreemly nippy (they only interacted with him at feeding time because she was scared of snakes, so naturally...) I have found a new love for the "skinnies". I am looking into getting him/her sexed and getting him/her a mate also.

I am still looking around at the pics here on the forums, in the classifieds, and at any of the breeders/dealers but just can NOT deside on what to get! LOL I guess these things take time, and I don't expect to get any right off the btt anyway, just planning, maybe when taxes come back we'll spring for a pair or two. That'll give me some time to research all I can so I know I can do this right and have everything I need setup for them before they come.

Thanks for the info! If you think of anything else, I am here to listen!
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

get a pair or two that are het for as many definite and possible traits as possible, even if they cost a little more. That way, hatching will be like opening Christmas presents. You won't know exactly what to expect and may get several different colors and patterns in the same clutch. What could be more fun?

Words of wisdom from Kathy. BTW Kathy, I sent you/Bill an e-mail maybe a month ago about blue chameleon adventures. I don't know if you got it. The question was, do you only do Madagascar or do you do the amazon on occasion? I am planning a trip that is a few years away.
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0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1.0 Ball Python "Wilson" (Castaway)
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
0.0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Onyx"

at the moment, he only goes to Madagascar, and is there now. He should have lots of stories from this trip. It was a tortoise research trip and his group MIGHT be the first Americans to see ALL of the native tortoises in their native habitats (along with lots of chameleons, geckos, lemurs, etc). Some were very inaccessible and took some REAL adventures to get there. I am sure it will probably result in an eventual Reptiles Magazine article.

We have been thinking of doing a Florida tour, but haven't so far. We don't have any plans for the Amazon. Bill went on the Green Tracks tour to the Amazon almost 10 years ago and said it was very good and also reasonably priced.

Thanks for the quick response. I had actually looked at greentreks and thought it looked great. I heard some great reviews also.
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0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1.0 Ball Python "Wilson" (Castaway)
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
0.0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Onyx"

Sounds like a good idea LOL. I guess I will just have to pick someone to get them from and then just see what they have! I have a feeling we'll end up with a blizz though, my husband likes them quite a bit, as do I. Even in the BP morphs my husband is drwan to the white ones (lucys and pieds) and I have to say the Pied is my Fav. So I guess it's a good start! LOL

Might end up with a ratsnake too, maybe just a pet though, might never breed, but the lucy texas rats just have incredible faces! My hubby saw one and just sat back and looked for a while and he just loves them. Maybe get a normal too though, who knows, I just can't have enough animals, expecially snakes!
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

I wouldn't recommend getting a leucy texas rat as a starter. They are very nippy for the most part. I have never held a young luecy that wasn't nippy.
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0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1.0 Ball Python "Wilson" (Castaway)
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
0.0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Onyx"

Yeah, I know. I've been bitten quite a few times by different BPs (had some farm raised girls) One of mine was a live only feeder and she would only take 1/2 size prey (nothing near as big as she should) and she was in the "S" every time you pulled her dwar out!

I don't plan on getting the rat right off the batt though, I want to learn to deal with the squirmyness first, my BPs are just lazy lumps most of the time and I just got the king and he has yet to let me get him out! I was told he's quite nippy though.

But, yeah, I can deal with getting bit, will actually probably be a relief after the BP bites, there nothing either though, I've gotten bit and not known if I really got bit or just struck at untill I see the blood LOL. As I mentioned though, not right away, I just think I'll end up with one.
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

You can't complete a colubrid collection unless you have corns AND ratsnakes which are technically the same but different I highly recomend the black ratsnake. Mine are just as docile as my corn but MUCH more active. They can be seen roaming theircage at all times of the day and night. The only thing that annoys me about them is that they insist on poking/nudging their prey for about 30 seconds before they bite it. I feed live for now so it is annoying. But they have never missed a meal.
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0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1.0 Ball Python "Wilson" (Castaway)
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
0.0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Onyx"

Hi, I was just takeing in all of the great advice .My son and I just started a snow project and also on an eight year old boys whim picked up a pair of bps{norm female and black back male}from the Michigan reptile show in Taylor.
Anyway I wanted to make note that in Michigan Black rats are on the protected list and from my inquiries at the michigan department of natural resources ,they can't be kept as pets in Michigan,although some may quallify for a educational permit.
PLEASE! if anyone has info to the contrary please post,black rats are my favorite and would love to own a few .

Hey, I'm in Michigan too, do you have AIM, MSN, or Yahoo? I have a hard time finding herpers around here. I went to the talor show to sell one of my het albino BPs a couple years ago, I would like to go again, are you going in Feb. or March? Do you have a link to herp laws in MI? Iam having a hard time finding them. I want to read about all the herps that are illeagle now that we are going in different directions. I also want to look into some of the licencing and permits for certain animals and breeding and selling. I will be breeding my BPs probably next season (if the females are up to par).
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

I don't IM since my son uses the computer.I do check my e-mail dailly
abulldogqwner@hotmail.com
I have to ration how often we go to the show or I'll run out of room...LOL
Here are some links that might be helpfull...
http://www.reptilerooms.com/forumtopic-24141.html
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12145_12201---,00.html
http://www.michherp.org/main1.html
http://www.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/herps/michigan_herps/

I would like to see specemin pics

Hate to rub it in....but here are some pics of my orange albino black rats and a picture of Hope to keep it on topic. Here in MO we are lucky. We have the biggest blackest rats AND we can collect them legally without a permitt.




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0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1.0 Ball Python "Wilson" (Castaway)
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
0.0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Onyx"

i would say to look at the various sites and pick your corns of preference and go from there. i'm in the process of trying to get a snow project off the ground because i like snow corns. theres tons of morphs out there none are easier then the next within slight reason. pick what you like and go with it. i would suggest keeping the corns in racks, its a lot cheaper then individual cages.

Yeah, thanks, Racks are DEFINITLY better LOL, I know this much, I have my BPs (temporarily) in aquariums right now (smallest one is in a 55g and the longest is in a 100g, all of the tanks are 4' long) and it takes up ALOT of space! We're going to build stacking cages for the BPs and probably start out with them for the corns and kings too. When we move we will get a couple rack systems, expecially when we start housing all the hatchlings!
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

I can recommend lots of corns, but what I like verses what you care for might be totally different. When it comes to my favorites, hands down, Okeetees and other types of normal corns are at the top of the list. Pictured below is my 03 Okeetee male who's pushing around 44-46 inchs. I got him from Howie Sherman from Strikers Herps. Also check out Jim Sargent/SplitRock Reptiles. He has some outstanding cornsnakes of various types. I just picked up a pair of Kisatchie corns from him. His adult kisatchies are something to behold. Pictured below is my 05 female.
Take your time, shop around, and I have no doubt you'll make a great choice. You can't go wrong with a corn.

Steve

>>Hello, I am considering getting a pair or two of corns. I am used to ball pythons for the most part, but want to venture out and maybe try breeding some corns.

What would be a good way to get started? Any recomendations on what type of corn? There are so many types out there I am just confused as to which I would want to do. What did you start out with? Which one is most common? Anything you can tell me is helpful. Thanks